U.S. park rangers at Cabrillo National Monument and special agents with the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch (ISB) seek the public’s help after a man was seen leaving the park’s tidepools with an abalone.
On Sunday, April 2 at approximately 2:30 p.m., a park visitor took photographs of a man who she saw holding a living abalone and witnessed him putting it into a cooler bag. The subject is described as a white male, in the age range of late 40s to mid-50s, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, white shorts and white gloves. The photos were taken by a park visitor who was upset by the violation.
Superintendent Andrea Compton is, “very appreciative of the reported violation by the park visitor and encourages visitors to report violations to park staff.”
Due to the declining number of species, like abalone, Cabrillo established the Tidepool Protection, Education and Restoration Program in 1996 to provide a refuge area for intertidal flora and fauna to recover. All wildlife in the park is protected. The removal of animals, shells, rocks and any kind of collecting is against the law.
If you have any information, call the Investigative Services Branch at 888-653-0009, text to 202-379-4561 or call Ranger Bonnie Phillips 619-557-5450 ext. 4586